Schloss Schleißheim is a Complex of Three Palaces:

Schloss Schleißheim – Munich

Schloss Schleißheim is a complex of three palaces set in a grand Baroque park in the village of Oberschleißheim in the northern edge of Munich.

The Old Schloss Schleissheim began as a country house and hermitage built by Duke Wilhelm V of Bavaria. From an early stage, the Duke renounced the splendours of court life, instead devoting himself to religious meditation. In 1598 he abdicated, allowing his son Maximilian to take over the rule.

In his country property, the Duke expanded on the farming activities and had a stud farm and produced Schleißheim beer and cheese. His son Maximilian became interested in the profits from the farming business and acquired the complex from his father in 1616. However, in 1617, Maximilian had his father’s manor replaced by a palace which is the present Old Palace. The palace was mostly destroyed during WWII and what we see today is a reconstruction.

When Elector Max Emanuel took over the reign, he turned the Old Palace into a pompous residence. In the late 17th century he built Lustheim palace and this was followed by the New Schleißheim Palace after 1700.

New Schloss Schleißheim

It is said that Maximilian Emanuel did not bring Bavaria much luck in the wars that he was engaged in. However, he did give the city the magnificent Baroque palaces of Nymphenburg and Schleißheim.

In 1701, the architect Enrico Zuccalli began building the New Palace, which was continued by young Josef Effner in 1719-26. Schloss Schleißheim is one of the best examples of a European residential palace. The ceiling frescoes also marked the beginning of a new era in South German ceiling painting. The interiors of the palace, especially of the festival rooms and the state apartment with their stucco-work decoration, carved panelling and in particular their furniture, are some of the most magnificent of their kind.

Lustheim Palace – Schleißheim Palaces

Schleißheim Palace facade reflects French elegance which pervades through to the lavishly decorated interior. Highlights include the Great Hall, the Victory Hall and the Great Gallery. Since 1978, the palace has housed the State Gallery of European Baroque Painting.

The Old and New Palaces are open (Tuesday – Sunday) from 09:00 – 18:00 during summer months and from 10:00 – 16:00 in winter. You can buy tickets to the three palaces separately, but a combined ticket is cheaper.

Getting there:

From Munich central station, take the suburban railway number 1 to Oberschleißheim (direction “Freising/Flughafen”) . From there it’s about 15 minutes walk to the Schleißheim palaces or you can also take bus number 292 (only on week days) to “Mittenheimer Straße” or “Schloss Lustheim”.